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Sixers Notes: Brown wants to fill out roster

ORLANDO - 76ers coach Brett Brown was asked Sunday when his team will fill out its roster. "I think in the next few days," he said.

ORLANDO - 76ers coach Brett Brown was asked Sunday when his team will fill out its roster.

"I think in the next few days," he said.

Brown gave the impression whoever that player is, he will be a welcome addition. The Sixers have 14 players, one fewer than the limit for NBA rosters.

The coach said general manager Sam Hinkie will pick the addition to the roster. A team source said that former Sixer Malcolm Thomas is among the candidates. The power forward was waived on Nov. 10. At the time, he had to have knee surgery that sidelined him four weeks.

The team's biggest needs are a reserve post player and a third-string point guard.

The Sixers freed up a roster spot shortly after acquiring Ronny Turiaf from the Minnesota Timberwolves in a three-team trade that sent Alexey Shved to the Houston Rockets on Friday. The Sixers released Turiaf, who had season-ending hip surgery Tuesday, once the trade became official.

But due to ailments and injuries, the team only dressed nine players against the Orlando Magic at the Amway Center Sunday evening.

Hollis Thompson (upper respiratory infection) and Furkan Aldemir (right foot plantar fasciitis) missed the game with ailments. Andrei Kirilenko is not with the team due to personal reasons. Joel Embiid and Jason Richardson (stress fractures in their right feet) have not played all season.

"The last two games, we haven't played with spirit," Brown said. "We've had a broken spirit. We have to reclaim our spirit first. . . . This [filling] out of the roster [will help] so we can bodies of spirit, fighting spirit."

J-Rich shooting

Jason Richardson (right foot stress fracture) participated in shooting drills with shooting coach Gene Burroughs following the shootaround. The 33-year-old was impressive from three-point land. Richardson has been sidelined since January 2013, when he injured his left kneecap. He expects to return before the all-star break in February.